Aged trotters headline first Friday of Old Home Week

CHARLOTTETOWN – The second leg of the P.E.I. Trotting Series will highlight Friday’s Old Home Week harness racing program at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 12-dash card begins at 7 p.m.

Fresh off winning the first leg in Summerside, Frill Seeker will look to bring that form into Race 9.

The six-year-old Angus Hall gelding is 2-for-3 since arriving on P.E.I., with his only mishap in his only start in Charlottetown. He made a miscue behind the gate, and never made it into the race.

The Post 6 starter is owned by the Ebbsfleet Stables while Kenny Arsenault handles the driving and training duties.

Zip The Lip has been installed as morning-line choice for owners Orville Willis and Donnie Sweet, who trains the Ken Warkentin gelding. Zip The Lip has finished in the top three nine out of 12 starts this season.

The ageless wonder Abundaspin has drawn the rail for trainer-driver Harold Shepherd. The 14-year-old has 13 top-three finishes this season, including six victories. Diamond Mine, Majian Dillon, Who Took That and Caliban Hanover complete the competition.

Other division

The other division will go in Race 6. Last week’s other winner, Pleasure Girls, has been saddled with the outside Post 7 for veteran trainer-driver Ronnie Gass. Owned by Shelley Gass, the daughter of Dr. Ronerail returned to the races from the breeding shed earlier this year. The mother of three was a winner in 2:01 in Leg 1.

Newcomer Beer Maggs draws into Post 1. The Quebec invader was not entered into the first leg. Charles Gaudreault has taken his stable to Charlottetown for Old Home Week, and brought the six-year-old daughter of Have A Beer with him. She comes in off a third-place finish in her last outing, trotting a mile in 1:58.2.

Last week’s odds-on favourite to upset Frill Seeker, Mopey Corey has drawn Post 4 in Race 6. He made his first start on P.E.I. last week, and finished second for owner Amanda Riley and trainer Tommy Riley.

Corey MacPherson will reunite with his namesake for the second time. Islander Anthony MacDonald named Mopey Corey after MacPherson, who was working for MacDonald at the time in Ontario.

Saulsbrook Balance, I Aint No Lady, Lyrical Lindy and Saulsbrook Fork round out the field.

Memorial

J V S Ring is listed as the morning-line favourite for owners Joey Gallant and Mike Pollard in the Blair Kelly Memorial Pace. Jackie Matheson trains the seven-year-old son of Cammibest, and Marc Campbell will drive.

Kelly had many horses stabled at the Matheson stable over the last number of years. He raised many yearlings under the Rivervue name, including Rivervue Skye, Rivervue Sandy and Rivervue Comet.

Feature

A pair of winning streaks will be on the line in the feature in Race 12.

Lyndale Royal comes into the event on a three-race winning streak, including his last victory in the Kelti Burnet Memorial. Dale Spence will drive for owner-trainer Jonah Moase.

Post 6 starter Leading Camdidate will look to stop Lyndale Royal's streak at three and extend his own to three. He has picked up back-to-back victories for Campbell this week Mike Stevenson will drive.